sparkling moments

December 31, 2006

 (originally appeared on october 26, 2004)

Dreams, when greatly pursued, are not impossible. I dreamed.

I greatly pursued it.

And I achieved it.

Staying in a hotel is not new to me. My college friends and I (especially Liz) have been doing this ever since. One starry night, I dreamed that someday my family and I can take a break from our daily [and boring] tasks; and that we get the chance to check-in in a five-star hotel and experience a life where all we do is relax. Prayers and hard work equal dream come true. Through our mortal fairy godmother—my aunt—that dream became a reality.

One late-night overseas call, the Pinay ladies (lola and nanay) were having a conversation with my aunt. They were discussing how are we going to celebrate the 75^th b-day of my grandmother. After an hour of discussion, they came up with nothing. So, I decided to join my folks. I suggested that we just have an ultra-exclusive family dinner. I also suggested that after the dinner, instead of going back home, we stay in a hotel. At first, my aunt accepted my humble (yet expensive) suggestion. Right after we finished our l-o-o-o-o-o-ng phone conversation, I proclaimed myself to be the official eventologist of the Diamond birthday celebration of my lola.

I only had roughly two weeks to close every deal—from hotel to the dinner to the financial back-up. Just days after her call, everything changed. My Tita was taking a back step from the original plan. Via the efficient e-mail system, she told me it would be a complicated thing. She added that my lola would surely not agree with what we were planning. During these times, we haven’t told lola about the whole plan. After some hard-fought negotiations, we would be sticking with the plan—but we needed to scrape off just one of the activities included: NO HOTEL OVERNIGHT. Aargh! I wanted to go to US just to talk to my Tita. I wanted to tell her that the hotel-thing would be the highlight of the celebration. Without telling her, I pushed through with it. I contacted all the connections I have.

Five days before the 9^th of October, things—big or small—still changed. Every now and then I have to confirm or to cancel one thing. That week was certainly a H-E-L-L (with six exclamation points). The eve of lola’s b-day, the hotel over night was still hanging. We still haven’t decided if we would push thru with that. Just a minute before Tita called us, I was able to have a private conversation with my major ally—nanay. I explained to her all the possibilities and all the discounts I have made because of connections. She was mesmerized with my story. She assured me that she would help me win my case. Another lengthy phone conversation took place. It was oh-so long that, I had the reservation around one in the morning. Simultaneously, while eating my late dinner, I was writing down the itinerary for our qualified-two-day vacation.

The big day arrived. I woke up in a just-like-Home-Alone scenario. Every one was preparing him or herself. While all of my family members were busy doing their own preparations, I stayed focus to my last minute confirmations. Every thing was set. Every thing went smoothly as planned. We le ft the house shortly after ten in the morning just in time for the 12 noon check-in time at New World Renaissance Hotel. I must say, it was the most suitable hotel for us since we had our dinner at UNA MAS in Greenbelt 3. Geographically, the hotel and the restaurant are VERY near—and I mean it.

It was perfect that every minute of it was so vivid in my memory. I took charge of everything. I wanted my family not to be bothered by any single problem. A little after one in the afternoon, we have quietly settled down. I immediately called the nearest KFC to have our lunch delivered. Of course, I didn’t pay for it. It was my nanay, I think. Two hours before the big event, every one focused their attention to whatever they wanted to. I had a shower encore. My lola, my nanay and tatay, Jennelyn, Junior, and Ate Carmela with the kids went down to stroll the Greenbelt mall. My two brothers took each of the bed to catch up some sleep. Here is a run-down of what happened:

0500pm – preparation for the mass and the dinner

0600pm – thanksgiving mass at the Greenbelt Chapel (I paid 50 bucks)

0700pm – dinner at UNA MAS (GB2); coincidentally, Helene, Tinay, and their respective families were there. They were having an after-graduation dinner. Nobody knew that we would be having our dinner there (except of course, Liz). It was a buffet style dinner. The food was alright. I am giving them 3 spoons (out of 5). But the place is fantastic (7 out of 5 spoons)! We brought with us our own CD—The LOS TRIOS—and a bottle of sparkling wine—Asti Spomante (from the event in Rustan’s, which I attended…hahaha!).

After serenading her, lola blew the candle of her super-delicious-chocolate cake!

0900pm – we went back to the hotel. Lola, Kuya Edgie, and Junior went home. Imagine, the birthday celebrant went home! My good Lord! But the rest of us stayed. Right after they went home, Jennelyn, Carl, and I went to the pool site to take advantage of that amenities; while the couple (Kuya Aries and Ate Carmela) went down the memory lane as they experienced an as-if-they-were-still-kid-less date. Tatay and Nanay and the two kiddies stayed in the room.

Before 1030pm, I went upstairs to catch up a rerun of that week’s episode of Sex and the City-season 6.

0700am (estimate) the next day - Kuya Aries and Ate Carmela went to the gym while the kids and Jennelyn went to the pool.      

0800am - we had our McDo breakfast. Jenny accompanied me when I bought it downstairs. Oh by the way, I must share this with you. There were hot, hot, hot guys eating their hot, hot, hot breakfast at McDo. What a nice way to welcome your day!

0900am – Tatay left for his job. It really was an advantage to him that we stayed at New World because his work is a sneeze away. He is working at Mr. Quickie-Landmark. Jenny, Nanay, and I went with him. The first two wanted to have their one last trip to Glorietta for that day. While yours truly, I needed to buy a [big] bottle of distilled water for the kids’ milk. I also had the chance to buy for a bubble bath liquid soap.

1030am – while Kuya Aries and family took a rest, I took a bubble bath.

1230pm – I went out of the room and prepared my things just in time for our late check-out

0100pm – Kuya Aries went to the gym

0200pm – we finally wrapped up our stay at the hotel When we arrived home, we were not that all-shocked to see that lola’s party has not yet ended. She and some of the tenants were having their own version of what a celebration should be—VIDEOKE galore!

Whatever has happened during the planning stage of this hard-fought celebration, everything was perfect. Indeed, each moment of it sparkled. Not only I realized my dream but also I have shared with them this dream…this dream of sleeping in a hotel (even just for a night) with my own family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m sure lola had a great time; so did we—especially me. Everyone’s eyes were sparkling…every moment sparkled…the diamond celebration of lola may be over. But the sparkle in each one of us will never die…knowing that we got the chance to reconnect to each other.